Words of Encouragement and Thoughts (6)

“HOSANNA!”

by Laurin Greco

Mark 11:7-10

“Hosanna to the Son of David,” the people called out as Jesus rode by on a donkey. “Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord; Hosanna in the highest!” (Matt. 21:9). They scampered in their worship, making a road of coats and tree branches before Him.

It was the day we know as Palm Sunday. But for the Jews packed in Jerusalem, the Sunday before the feast of Passover was the day each family would choose their lamb to sacrifice for the annual time of remembrance. Years before, when His people were still in Egypt’s shackles, God warned that death was on its way and no one—neither the righteous nor the wicked—would be spared. But the Lord provided a way, a covering. All who took shelter under the spilt blood of a perfect lamb would live.

“Sin costs blood,” God was communicating. And every spring, His people remembered.


His people thought they were choosing their king, but God was choosing their Lamb.
After that first Passover, the Lord also taught His people how lifeblood would provide provisional covering for their sin. “The life of the flesh is in the blood,” He told them. “And I have given it to you on the altar to make atonement for your souls” (Lev. 17:11). God showed His people how to offer daily and annual sacrifices for their sin. “This will cover you for a little while,” He was explaining.

So for years and years God’s people kept bringing sacrifices. “Save us, please,” was the prayer as blood spilled from every offering. But the blood of bulls and lambs can’t purify a sin-stained heart (Heb. 10:4). The people of God were covered, but they weren’t clean.

And then came that day. In their hearts, the people were choosing an earthly king. The yoke of Rome was heavy, and they wanted freedom. “Hosanna [Save us, please!] to the Son of David,” they called out as Jesus rode by on a donkey. “Hosanna!” But God had a freedom of a much more beautiful kind on His heart. His people thought they were choosing their king, but God was choosing their Lamb.

“Save us, please!” they cried. And the answer was the same then as today: Behold, the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!

InTouch Daily Devotional by Charles Stanley

Friendship with God
March 20, 2016


Shall I hide from Abraham what I am doing…? —Genesis 18:17

The Delights of His Friendship. Genesis 18 brings out the delight of true friendship with God, as compared with simply feeling His presence occasionally in prayer. This friendship means being so intimately in touch with God that you never even need to ask Him to show you His will. It is evidence of a level of intimacy which confirms that you are nearing the final stage of your discipline in the life of faith. When you have a right-standing relationship with God, you have a life of freedom, liberty, and delight; you are God’s will. And all of your commonsense decisions are actually His will for you, unless you sense a feeling of restraint brought on by a check in your spirit. You are free to make decisions in the light of a perfect and delightful friendship with God, knowing that if your decisions are wrong He will lovingly produce that sense of restraint. Once he does, you must stop immediately.

The Difficulties of His Friendship. Why did Abraham stop praying when he did? He stopped because he still was lacking the level of intimacy in his relationship with God, which would enable him boldly to continue on with the Lord in prayer until his desire was granted. Whenever we stop short of our true desire in prayer and say, “Well, I don’t know, maybe this is not God’s will,” then we still have another level to go. It shows that we are not as intimately acquainted with God as Jesus was, and as Jesus would have us to be— “…that they may be one just as We are one…” (John 17:22). Think of the last thing you prayed about— were you devoted to your desire or to God? Was your determination to get some gift of the Spirit for yourself or to get to God? “For your Father knows the things you have need of before you ask Him” (Matthew 6:8). The reason for asking is so you may get to know God better. “Delight yourself also in the Lord, and He shall give you the desires of your heart” (Psalm 37:4). We should keep praying to get a perfect understanding of God Himself.

WISDOM FROM OSWALD CHAMBERS

Beware of bartering the Word of God for a more suitable conception of your own. Disciples Indeed, 386 R

My Utmost For His Highest by Oswald Chambers

God is saying, "You may feel alone but are not alone. Remember that I AM with you forever and always."

“For we are God's fellow workers; you are God's field, you are God's building.” (1 Corinthians 3:9 NKJV)

YOU ARE GOD'S BUILDING

God’s building on the earth is the Church (the Ekklessia). This building is not an impressive or imposing physical edifice; it is an assembly of a people called out from sin, self and the world to God.

The Lord Jesus is the Chief builder of the Ekklessia!

He aptly said, “I will build My church, and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it.” (Matt. 16:18 NKJV).

Although it is the Lord Jesus who is building His Church, yet He calls some men into partnership with Him as co-builders, for the Lord Jesus takes delight in working in, with and through mortal men.

This is why Paul said to the Corinthian Christians, “For we are God's fellow workers; you are God's field, you are God's building.” (1 Cor. 3:9 NKJV).

What a great privilege and huge responsibility to be called to be God’s fellow workers or builders!

God’s delight has always been with the sons of men (Prov. 8:31). God delights in having a loving and intimate relationship with the people He created in His image. It is God’s desire to dwell in us and walk among us.

Paul queries, “And what agreement has the temple of God with idols? For you are the temple of the living God. As God has said: "I will dwell in them and walk among them. I will be their God, and they shall be My people." (2 Cor. 6:16 NKJV).

The ultimate purpose of Christ’s sacrifice on the cross for our sins is to redeem, sanctify or set us apart for God to dwell in us, walk among us, and work through us.

Paul clearly reveals this truth in Ephesians 2:19-22:
19 Now, therefore, you are no longer strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God,
20 having been built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ Himself being the chief cornerstone,
21 in whom the whole building, being joined together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord,
22 in whom you also are being built together for a dwelling place of God in the Spirit. (NKJV).

He further reveals that the Lord Jesus gave Himself for us, “that He might redeem us from every lawless deed and purify for Himself His own special people, zealous for good works.” (Titus 2:14 NKJV).

“For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.” (Ephesians 2:10 NKJV).

Before the offering of the body of Jesus Christ on the cross to purify or sanctify us as God’s spiritual building or temple on earth, God was always calling for a physical building or temple to be built and set apart for Him so that He might dwell with men and walk among men (Exo. 29:42-46, Hag. 1:8).

God specifically commanded the children of Israel, saying, "And let them make Me a sanctuary, that I may dwell among them.” (Exo. 25:8 NKJV).

But after Christ’s death on the cross, God is no longer calling men to build or set apart a physical building or temple for Him to dwell among men. God’s delight is no longer in any physical building, but in a spiritual building, His Church (the Ekklessia).

The born-again believers are now God’s building or temple which God desires to dwell in, walk among, and work through!

Paul pointed out this truth to the Christians at Corinth, saying, “For we are God's fellow workers; you are God's field, you are God's building.” (1 Cor. 3:9 NKJV).

“And what agreement has the temple of God with idols? For you are the temple of the living God. As God has said: "I will dwell in them And walk among them. I will be their God, And they shall be My people." (2 Cor. 6:16 NKJV).

Sadly, the delight or passion of many church leaders today is building impressive and imposing physical temples for God, rather than building the believers as spiritual temple for God.

While much energy, strength, time and financial resources are being expended today on physical buildings or temples for God, the believers who are God’s spiritual building or temple are left to famish, dilapidate, and collapse.

We are simply esteeming that which is of no value or significance in God’s sight. How we have misplaced our priority today!

Having been redeemed, justified, sanctified or set apart to God, the born-again believers are the living stones to be built up as a holy temple for God’s habitation on earth.

Apostle Peter testifies, “You also, as living stones, are being built up a spiritual house, a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.” (1 Pet. 2:5 NKJV).

It is God’s utmost delight to see the believers today being “built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ Himself being the chief cornerstone, in whom the whole building, being joined together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord, in whom you also are being built together for a dwelling place of God in the Spirit.” (Eph. 2:20-22 NKJV).

Therefore, anyone whose utmost passion, purpose, or priority is not building God’s people as a spiritual house or temple for a dwelling place of God in the Spirit is not a co-builder with Christ, rather he is anti-Christ.

It is certainly a great privilege and responsibility to be called and chosen by the Lord Jesus to be a co-builder of His Church with Him. Apostle Paul understood the huge responsibility of being a co-builder with Christ. He didn’t take the responsibility lightly.

Paul writes, “According to the grace of God which was given to me, as a wise master builder I have laid the foundation, and another builds on it. But let each one take heed how he builds on it.” (1 Cor. 3:10 NKJV).

“Him we preach, warning every man and teaching every man in all wisdom, that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus. To this end I also labor, striving according to His working which works in me mightily.” (Col. 1:28-29 NKJV).

Sadly, many men today, unlike Paul, who are called to be co-builders with Christ are taking this responsibility very lightly, not taking heed to build on the right foundation, with the right building material, and according to God’s specification, design, pattern or model. Apparently, this is the reason why God does not inhabit or fill with His awesome presence what they have built.

It is sad but true that believers today rather than being joined together as living stones to grow up into a holy spiritual house for God to dwell in and manifest His awesome power, presence and glory on earth are being divided and disjointed by doctrines and denominations.

The Church today is being torn apart by her carnal human leaders called to build her. It is obvious to all that these men are only after their selfish interests, vain glories and material gains (1 Cor. 3:3-4).

It is sad but true that many spiritual leaders today called by the Lord into partnership with Him to build His Church for Him are now completely engrossed or occupied with building names, empires and monuments for themselves.

Consequently, the Lord is raising among His people today a new company of co-builders who will not build His Church according to the wisdom, pattern, principles or ways of this world, but according to His revealed divine wisdom, principles and pattern.

Like the faithful builders of the tabernacle or temple of old, the new company of faithful co-builders the Lord is raising today will tarry in God’s presence (labour in God’s Word) until they clearly see, know, understand and receive God’s building plan, pattern and specification for the spiritual temple He desires to build on earth. Then, they will arise to build according to the plan, pattern and purpose which God has revealed to them.

Beloved, are you one of the rising new generation of co-builders with Christ in this generation?

The Lord is saying to you today: "Go up to the mountains and bring wood and build the temple, that I may take pleasure in it and be glorified," says the LORD.” (Hag. 1:8 NKJV).

"And see to it that you make them according to the pattern which was shown you on the mountain.” (Exo. 25:40 NKJV).

What is God’s building pattern and material for His Church today?

Find out in the next piece!

Prayer: My Dear Heavenly Father, behold the ruins of Your building today on earth. Raise a new generation of co-builders with You who will build according to Your divine pattern, plan and principles, and make me one of them, in Jesus’ name. Amen.

Teaching by Pastor Jegede Sunday E

LAMB OF GOD

by Matt Woodley

Revelation 7:17

Editor’s Note: The devotions for March 21st, 22nd, and 23rd focus on elements of Passover, which Jesus celebrated with His disciples the night before His crucifixion.

Bumblebees and badgers, lions and skunks, black bears and beagles all have one thing in common: If threatened, they will sting, bite, spray, or maul you. But there’s this predictable trait about lambs: They never attack; instead, throughout history wolves and other predators have attacked them. When lambs are mentioned in the Bible, it’s usually in the context of a sacrificial offering. For example, in the Passover—the central event of the Old Testament—God rescues His people through the blood of a lamb.

So you can imagine the disciples’ shock when John the Baptist introduced Jesus, their Lord and Messiah, as “the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world” (John 1:29). The God of all creation, the one “through [whom] all things were made” (John 1:3NIV), comes to the earth as ... a lamb?


Someone had to find us and rescue us—even if that meant dying in our place.
It’s a strange story. Christianity is the only view of life that presents a vulnerable God—a God who, in love and for love, subjected Himself to be mauled by His own creatures. Of course, it’s important to note that Jesus the vulnerable Lamb is also the mighty Lamb who rules on the throne, judges the earth, and triumphs in war (Rev. 5:6; Rev. 14:9-11; Rev. 17:14)—but even then He is the lamb “who was slain from the creation of the world” (Rev. 13:8 NIV).

It’s also a daring and original story, the story of us all—broken people who have wandered so far in the wrong direction, sunk so deep in the morass of sin, that we cannot find our way home or lift ourselves out of the pit. Someone had to enter those dark woods of our own making; someone had to descend into our self-chosen chasm; someone had to find us and rescue us—even if that meant dying in our place. And that is the story of Jesus, the lion who came as a lamb. Unlike the millions of sacrificed Passover lambs slaughtered throughout history, Jesus willingly gave His life “to take away the sin of the world.”

God comes to us as a lamb, as the Lamb of God, to prove that He is for us, not against us. Why would you not place your whole life in His hands?

InTouch Daily Devotional by Charles Stanley

Identified or Simply Interested?
March 21, 2016


I have been crucified with Christ… —Galatians 2:20

The inescapable spiritual need each of us has is the need to sign the death certificate of our sin nature. I must take my emotional opinions and intellectual beliefs and be willing to turn them into a moral verdict against the nature of sin; that is, against any claim I have to my right to myself. Paul said, “I have been crucified with Christ….” He did not say, “I have made a determination to imitate Jesus Christ,” or, “I will really make an effort to follow Him” —but— “I have been identified with Him in His death.” Once I reach this moral decision and act on it, all that Christ accomplished for me on the Cross is accomplished in me. My unrestrained commitment of myself to God gives the Holy Spirit the opportunity to grant to me the holiness of Jesus Christ.

“…it is no longer I who live….” My individuality remains, but my primary motivation for living and the nature that rules me are radically changed. I have the same human body, but the old satanic right to myself has been destroyed.

“…and the life which I now live in the flesh,” not the life which I long to live or even pray that I live, but the life I now live in my mortal flesh— the life which others can see, “I live by faith in the Son of God….” This faith was not Paul’s own faith in Jesus Christ, but the faith the Son God had given to him (see Ephesians 2:8). It is no longer a faith in faith, but a faith that transcends all imaginable limits— a faith that comes only from the Son of God.

WISDOM FROM OSWALD CHAMBERS

We must keep ourselves in touch, not with theories, but with people, and never get out of touch with human beings, if we are going to use the word of God skilfully amongst them. Workmen of God, 1341 L

My Utmost For His Highest by Oswald Chambers

God is saying, "Don't stay up all night tossing and turning in bed with a mind filled with worries. Talk with me in prayer, tell me what's on your mind, and then let it go and trust that I will take care of it all."

“For no other foundation can anyone lay than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ.” (1 Corinthians 3:11 NKJV)

THE BLUEPRINT FOR GOD'S BUILDING

God always employs and engages men as co-builders with Him whenever He wants anything built on the earth. However, God always gives to His co-builders a detailed specification, pattern, or blueprint for whatever He has called them to build for Him.

When God wanted an ark to be built on the earth for the salvation of those who would believe and heed His warning before sending a great flood to destroy the earth and its inhabitants, He employed Noah and delivered to him a detailed blueprint or plan for building the ark.

God instructed Noah in Genesis 6:14-16, saying,
14 "Make yourself an ark of gopherwood; make rooms in the ark, and cover it inside and outside with pitch.
15 "And this is how you shall make it: The length of the ark shall be three hundred cubits, its width fifty cubits, and its height thirty cubits.
16 "You shall make a window for the ark, and you shall finish it to a cubit from above; and set the door of the ark in its side. You shall make it with lower, second, and third decks.
(NKJV).

Likewise, when God wanted a tabernacle to be built in the wilderness so that He might dwell and walk among the children of Israel, He called Moses up to the mountain and showed Him the pattern of the tabernacle He wanted built on earth.

Having revealed to Moses the divine blueprint or pattern for the tabernacle, God commanded Moses, saying, "And see to it that you make them according to the pattern which was shown you on the mountain.” (Exo. 25:40 NKJV).

Moreover, God delivered to David the divine building plans for the first temple. David then handed over the building plans to his son Solomon.

David said to Solomon in 1 Chronicles 28:10-12:
10 "Consider now, for the LORD has chosen you to build a house for the sanctuary; be strong, and do it."
11 Then David gave his son Solomon the plans for the vestibule, its houses, its treasuries, its upper chambers, its inner chambers, and the place of the mercy seat;
12 and the plans for all that he had by the Spirit, of the courts of the house of the LORD, of all the chambers all around, of the treasuries of the house of God, and of the treasuries for the dedicated things. (NKJV).

The Scripture clearly reports that God filled the tabernacle built by Moses and the first Temple built by Solomon with His awesome presence and glory at their completion and dedication because the builders built according to the divine blueprint, plan or pattern God had revealed and delivered to them.

God always shows His approval of the building built according to His revealed and given blueprint, plan or pattern with His awesome presence and glory.

When Moses had finished the tabernacle and set it up according to the pattern God revealed to him, the Scripture records:“Then the cloud covered the tabernacle of meeting, and the glory of the LORD filled the tabernacle. And Moses was not able to enter the tabernacle of meeting, because the cloud rested above it, and the glory of the LORD filled the tabernacle.” (Exod. 40:34-35 NKJV).

Similarly, when Solomon had finished building the first Temple according to the divine building blueprint, plan or pattern delivered to him by his father, David, the Scripture reports:“When Solomon had finished praying, fire came down from heaven and consumed the burnt offering and the sacrifices; and the glory of the LORD filled the temple. And the priests could not enter the house of the LORD, because the glory of the LORD had filled the LORD'S house.” (2 Chro. 7:1-2 NKJV).

God has not changed His ways of dealing with His co-builders today. He will not send any man to undertake any building project for Him without showing or giving him a clear blueprint, plan, pattern or specification of what He wants. And if the man builds according to the God-given pattern, then God will fill the building with His awesome glory and take over the building completely from men.

Sadly, unlike the faithful men of old who built for God according to His blueprint or pattern, many men who claim to be building for God today are obviously not building according to God’s blueprint and pattern.

While God’s emphasis today is on building His Church (the Ekklessia) as a spiritual temple for Him on earth, the emphasis of carnal leaders today is on building impressive edifices, cathedrals, or monuments for themselves.

Any wonder God’s awesome glory is evidently absent in our imposing buildings today!

God has a building project going on now on the earth. This building is not a physical temple or edifice, but a company of people redeemed by the blood of Jesus and called out of sin, self and the world to be separated to God.

God’s present building on the earth is the Church (the Ekklessia). The believers, as living stones, are being “built together for a dwelling place of God in the Spirit.” (Eph. 2:21-22 NKJV).

What then is God’s blueprint, plan, pattern or model for building His Church today?

Jesus Christ!

First, the only true and divine foundation on which the Church (the Ekklessia) must be built is Jesus Christ.

The Scripture clearly states: “For no other foundation can anyone lay than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ.” (1 Cor. 3:11 NKJV).

The foundation is very crucial to any building. It is the foundation that carries the weight of the building. Therefore, if the foundation is shallow, weak or faulty, the entire building on it will also be weak and liable to a sudden collapse.

Jesus Christ is the only sure and solid spiritual foundation that can carry and sustain the spiritual temple that God will inhabit and fill with His awesome glory. God will not dwell in, walk among and work through the people we build on mere religious rules and rites, human traditions or customs, vain philosophy or worldly wisdom.

Sadly, many believers today are not being built on pure faith in the person and finished work of Christ. Rather, they are being built on the Old Testament laws, religious rites, human traditions, vain philosophy, wisdom and words of men.

According to God’s blueprint, His Church must be “built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ Himself being the chief cornerstone, in whom the whole building, being joined together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord.” (Eph. 2:20-21 NKJV).

The Cornerstone is the first stone set in construction of a foundation, and all other stones are then set in reference to this stone. It is the cornerstone that determines the position of the entire structure or building.

Every believer, as a living stone, must be built, set, or aligned in reference to Jesus Christ - the Chief Cornerstone (Isa. 28:16)!

Building men upon the sure and solid spiritual foundation of Jesus Christ starts with clearly teaching or presenting the gospel truth that salvation is purely by faith in the grace or provision of God for our salvation, the Lord Jesus Christ (Eph. 2:8-9, Tit. 2:11).

Salvation that is not entirely based upon pure faith in the person and the finished work of Christ is not a sure and solid foundation for a Christian life that is pleasing to God.

Second, according to God’s blueprint, His Church must be built with pure, sound and wholesome words, doctrines or teachings of Jesus Christ.

While laying a strong and solid foundation for a building is very important, building with good and right building materials is also very important.

Although the foundation may be very solid and strong, yet if the building is built with fake, inferior or substandard materials; the building will not be strong or stand long before collapsing.

Therefore, God is not only concerned about building His Church on His recommended foundation (pure faith in Jesus Christ). But, God is also very much concerned about the sort of materials (the words, doctrines or teachings) men are using in building His Church.

What are God-recommended building materials for His Church?

The teachings of Christ!
The doctrines of the early apostles of Christ!

The only pure, sound and wholesome words, teachings or doctrines approved of God as the right building materials for building His Church as His spiritual house on earth are those which Jesus taught in person and through the Holy Spirit to His early apostles. This is why they are called “apostles’ doctrines” (Acts 2:42).

The teachings of Christ or apostles’ doctrines consist of Christ’s beliefs, views, perspectives, values, mindsets, principles, ways, or attitudes.

The body of truths Christ delivered to His early apostles to use in building His Church is divine, perfect and complete. While our understanding of these truths may be progressive, the truths themselves are not progressive but constant; there is nothing to be added, removed, or modified in them.

The Scripture testifies that it “was once for all delivered to the saints.” (Jude 1:3 NKJV).

The word or teaching of Christ on every subject or issue is divine, authoritative, final, complete, perfect, and superior to that of any religious or spiritual leaders.

Any doctrine or teaching that does not wholly conform to that of Christ and His early apostles in the New Testament is a fake, inferior or substandard building material for building God’s Church today.

Apostle Paul warns in 1 Timothy 6:3-5:
3 If anyone teaches otherwise and does not consent to wholesome words, even the words of our Lord Jesus Christ, and to the doctrine which accords with godliness,
4 he is proud, knowing nothing, but is obsessed with disputes and arguments over words, from which come envy, strife, reviling, evil suspicions,
5 useless wranglings of men of corrupt minds and destitute of the truth, who suppose that godliness is a means of gain. From such withdraw yourself. (NKJV).

Regrettably, many men who claim to be building the Church for God today are only building with fake or substandard materials - enticing words of human wisdom, vain philosophies, and empty deceits, traditions of men, religious regulations, and principles of this world (Col. 2:8).

This is why today’s Church is largely spiritually immature, weak, unstable and carnal!

If God’s people are not being constantly fed with pure and wholesome words of life (the teachings of Christ) we should not expect them to grow up to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ.

Sadly, many believers today hardly bear any resemblance to Christ in their mind, will, emotions and actions. This is simply because many of our spiritual leaders today are largely building the believers with materials that are not Christ-like in any respect.

Beloved, are you called to be a co-builder with Christ?

You need to be careful how you build and the materials you are using in building the Church!

Paul warns, “Now if anyone builds on this foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw, each one's work will become clear; for the Day will declare it, because it will be revealed by fire; and the fire will test each one's work, of what sort it is.” (1 Cor. 3:12-13 NKJV).

Gold, silver and precious stones speak of wholesome doctrines. But, wood, hay and straw are false doctrines.

If you are teaching or feeding God’s people under your tutelage with doctrines that don’t conform wholly to that of Christ and His early apostles in the New Testament, you are building with wood, hay and straw. And when your work is tested with fire, you will suffer a great loss.

Friend, choose to build according to God’s blueprint. Your reward will be great in heaven!

Prayer: My Dear Heavenly Father, thank You for opening my eyes of understanding today to see and understand Your blueprint for building Your Church. Dear Holy Spirit, help me to be a wise builder who builds according to God’s blueprint, in Jesus’ name. Amen.

Teaching by Pastor Jegede Sunday E

God is Almighty and Holy.

THE BREAD

John 6:35

Editor’s Note: The devotions for March 21st, 22nd, and 23rd focus on elements of Passover, which Jesus celebrated with His disciples the night before His crucifixion.

For thousands of years the Jewish people had a special script for their most important event of the year—the Passover. Brimming with drama and intensity, the Passover included a carefully prepared order of words, symbols, foods, tastes, smells, and actions. So if the father of the household went off script as he led the Passover meal, everyone present would immediately notice.

And that’s exactly what happened when Jesus gathered His band of followers as death loomed. The evening started like a typical Passover meal—they were celebrating the way Jews had done for centuries ... until Jesus intentionally went off script and started talking about Himself. As the Savior took the Passover bread in His hands, He said something utterly shocking: “Take, eat; this is My body” (Matt. 26:26).


At every step, it is Jesus who initiates.
The Passover was all about deliverance for a particular people (the Jews) from bondage and into true freedom. But the entire storyline of the Bible pointed to an even deeper liberation from a more tragic bondage—deliverance from sin for the entire human race. As He held the bread in His hands, Jesus calmly announced that His broken body would be the one and only source of that deeper, universal deliverance and freedom.

“This is My body which is given for you” (Luke 22:19)—some church historians call this sentence “the words of institution” because our Savior was instituting, or inaugurating, a new chapter in the story about God and the human race. But notice that Jesus went off script so we would know this new chapter comes through His initiative, not ours.

Even as He was handed over to death, the Lord was graciously acting to save, forgive, and bless us. At every step, it is Jesus who initiates. Jesus writes (or revises) the script. Jesus gives us the Lord’s Supper, a meal to share with Him—the one who said, “I am the bread of life.”

And with a simple piece of bread, Jesus declares how salvation comes—not by our striving but by His grace, not as a human project but as a divine gift.

by Matt Woodley

InTouch Daily devotional by Charles Stanley

The Burning Heart
March 22, 2016


Did not our heart burn within us…? —Luke 24:32

We need to learn this secret of the burning heart. Suddenly Jesus appears to us, fires are set ablaze, and we are given wonderful visions; but then we must learn to maintain the secret of the burning heart— a heart that can go through anything. It is the simple, dreary day, with its commonplace duties and people, that smothers the burning heart— unless we have learned the secret of abiding in Jesus.

Much of the distress we experience as Christians comes not as the result of sin, but because we are ignorant of the laws of our own nature. For instance, the only test we should use to determine whether or not to allow a particular emotion to run its course in our lives is to examine what the final outcome of that emotion will be. Think it through to its logical conclusion, and if the outcome is something that God would condemn, put a stop to it immediately. But if it is an emotion that has been kindled by the Spirit of God and you don’t allow it to have its way in your life, it will cause a reaction on a lower level than God intended. That is the way unrealistic and overly emotional people are made. And the higher the emotion, the deeper the level of corruption, if it is not exercised on its intended level. If the Spirit of God has stirred you, make as many of your decisions as possible irrevocable, and let the consequences be what they will. We cannot stay forever on the “mount of transfiguration,” basking in the light of our mountaintop experience (see Mark 9:1-9). But we must obey the light we received there; we must put it into action. When God gives us a vision, we must transact business with Him at that point, no matter what the cost.

We cannot kindle when we will
The fire which in the heart resides,
The spirit bloweth and is still,
In mystery our soul abides;
But tasks in hours of insight willed
Can be through hours of gloom fulfilled.

WISDOM FROM OSWALD CHAMBERS

We are not to preach the doing of good things; good deeds are not to be preached, they are to be performed. So Send I You, 1330 L

My Utmost For His Highest by Oswald Chambers